Surname Herholdt - Meaning and Origin
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Herholdt: What does the surname Herholdt mean?
The last name Herholdt is a Scandinavian-origin surname derived from the Old Norse personal name Haraldr, which is composed of the elements har, meaning “army” or “host”, and veldr meaning “ruler” or “leader”. This combination literally translates to “army leader”, so the hereditary surname became associated with people who had been entrusted with such an important role. The family may have had descendants that were lords, warriors, or leaders in their respective societies.
The original bearer of the Herholdt name would have been a man who was given a fine or large farm in an area of Denmark, Norway or Sweden. The surname Herholdt appears to have been in use since the time of the Viking kings, and the heck of the family may have been a powerful man among local tribes.
The Warriors Shield was a popular symbol of the Herholdt family, and the line of the family was sometimes called the Warriors Clan of Herholdt. This suggests that wearers of the surname were feared and respected for their leadership and prowess in battle.
Today, the Herholdt name still carries a strong sense of honor and respect with it, as it once did centuries ago. It is likely that people with the Herholdt name still maintain the traditions associated with it such as strength and loyalty. These attributes are what likely propelled the family name forward, and continue to make it an admired surname throughout the world.
Order DNA origin analysisHerholdt: Where does the name Herholdt come from?
The last name Herholdt is most commonly found in South Africa, where it ranks as the 641st most popular surname. In total, there are around 19,900 people who carry the Herholdt name in the country, with as many as one in every 2,520 South African citizens having the surname. Herholdt is believed to be a derivative of Herold, a German name which means ‘leader’ or ‘general’.
The surname first appeared in the Netherlands in the late 16th century. From there, it spread to Germany, where it quickly became popular. It is believed that many Herholdts, along with other Dutch families, later emigrated to South Africa, where the Herholdt name is now most commonly found. Some members of the Herholdt family have also moved to the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries in the past few decades.
Records indicate that the Herholdt name has been part of South Africa's history since the 17th century. The first person with the surname was a soldier who served in the military squad of the Dutch East India Company. His descendants spread the name across South Africa, where it is still widely found today.
Variations of the surname Herholdt
The surname Herholdt is a German surname and variants of this surname include Heroldt, Herolt, Heroult, Heroltz, Herold, and Herhold.
The prefix "Her" in Herholdt is derived from the Old German "hari" meaning "army" and "holdt" meaning "rule or lord". In this way, this surname may be interpreted to mean "the army lord".
In terms of spelling, Herholdt appears as Heroldt and Herolt in Germany. Spellings vary in other German-speaking regions such as Austria and Switzerland, where forms such as Harhold, Herholde, Herault, Heroult, Haroult, Heroltz, and Heroltze are found.
In the Low Countries, the spelling of Herholdt can become Herold and the spelling Herold can also change to Herhold. In the United States, the surname is almost exclusively spelled Herholdt due to its entry into the US in the 19th century and the Americanization of names.
In France, surnames from Herholdt can take the form Herault, Heroult, and Heroldt. This may have a connection to the French city of Herault, which is an ancient city in the Languedoc region of southern France. In Iceland, the surname may be spelled as Heraud.
Surnames with similar origins include Harald, Herbert, Heerlicht, Heroldt, Heldt, Herold, Herholz, Heroltz, Holdt, Hartold, and Hardol.
Famous people with the name Herholdt
- Hans Henrik Herholdt: Also known by his artist name Jooks, he is a Danish rapper and actor.
- Maya Herholdt: She is a Danish actress and singer known for her roles in Svigermor, Ønskebrønden and Søren & Ingemann.
- Lene Herholdt: Another Danish actress and singer, she is best known for her lead role as Josephina in the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
- Casper Herholdt: A Danish actor who has starred in films such as Se min kjole, Misery Harbor, and Klovn Forever.
- Brian Herholdt: He is a South African actor who has starred in various TV and radio productions, including Crossing, Isidingo and Binnelanders.
- Peter Herholdt: A Danish actor and comedian known for his roles in Barbarber, Venner for livet and Hotellet.
- Ove Herholdt: A Danish actor, director and screenwriter known for his work on films such as Kærlighed ved første hik and Midsommer.
- John Herholdt: He is an American film producer who has worked on films like Black Snake Moan, The Iron Giant and The Weather Man.